U.S. patent number 6,556,660 [Application Number 09/841,975] was granted by the patent office on 2003-04-29 for apparatus for providing redundant services path to customer premises equipment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AT&T Corp.. Invention is credited to Nga Ling Li, Robert Raymond Miller, II, Jeremiah A. Okoro, Jesse Eugene Russell.
United States Patent |
6,556,660 |
Li , et al. |
April 29, 2003 |
Apparatus for providing redundant services path to customer
premises equipment
Abstract
An apparatus that provides a redundant path for providing
service using existing or original equipment when failure or
degradation of performance of new equipment is detected in a
communication network. A controller module monitors the performance
of new equipment used to provide improved services to service
provider customers. When a failure in the new equipment is
detected, the controller module outputs a control signal to switch
processing from the new equipment to the existing equipment that is
still available for use. In addition, processing may be switched
from the new equipment to the existing equipment when the
controller detects degradation in the performance of the new
equipment so that loss of service is prevented. Therefore, the
existing equipment acts as a redundant path for processing.
Inventors: |
Li; Nga Ling (Staten Island,
NY), Miller, II; Robert Raymond (Convent Station, NJ),
Okoro; Jeremiah A. (Landing, NJ), Russell; Jesse Eugene
(Piscataway, NJ) |
Assignee: |
AT&T Corp. (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25286227 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/841,975 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/15.01;
370/244; 370/248; 370/254; 379/26.01; 379/29.08; 379/9.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/24 (20130101); H04M 3/08 (20130101); H04M
3/2263 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/24 (20060101); H04M 3/08 (20060101); H04M
3/22 (20060101); H04M 001/24 (); H04M 003/08 ();
H04M 003/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/1.01,2,8,9.05,9.06,15.01,16,17,22,22.04,22.08,27.01,27.06,29.08,32.01
;370/217,219,220,225,227,244,254 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tieu; Binh
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Banner & Witcoff
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for providing an operating path via one of an
existing equipment module and a new equipment module in a network,
the apparatus comprising: signal supply module receiving signals
from customer premises equipment; a transfer switch connected
between the output of the signal supply module and respective
inputs of the new equipment module and the existing equipment
module; and a controller module, connected to respective outputs of
the new equipment module and the existing equipment module, to the
signal supply module and to the transfer switch, for controlling
the operation of the signal supply module and the transfer switch
to process signals via one of the new equipment module and the
existing equipment module.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller
module is arranged to detect failure in the new equipment module
and to output a control signal to the signal supply module and to
the transfer switch to change processing from the new equipment
module to the existing equipment module when failure in the new
equipment module is detected.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller
module is arranged to monitor a signal output from the new
equipment module representing the performance of the new equipment
module and to switch processing from the new equipment module to
the existing equipment module based upon the performance of the new
equipment module.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller
module is arranged to detect a carrier-to-noise ratio of the signal
output from the new equipment module, and switches processing from
the new equipment module to the existing equipment module when the
carrier-to-noise ratio of the signal is below a first predetermined
threshold value.
5. An apparatus for providing an operating path via one of an
existing equipment module and a new equipment module in a network,
the apparatus comprising: a signal supply module receiving signals
from customer premises equipment; a transfer switch connected
between the output of the signal supply module and respective
inputs of the new equipment module and the existing equipment
module; and a controller module, connected to respective outputs of
the new equipment module and the existing equipment module, to the
signal supply module and to the transfer switch, for controlling
the operation of the signal supply module and the transfer switch
to process signals via one of the new equipment module and the
existing equipment module, wherein the controller module comprises:
a diode for receiving the signal output from the new equipment
module; a first comparator that compares a signal output from the
diode with a first predetermined threshold value; a switch for
receiving one of an output signal from the first comparator and a
control signal from a central office; wherein the controller module
controls the operation of the signal supply module and the transfer
switch via an output from the switch to process signals via one of
the new equipment module and the existing equipment module based
upon one of the output signal from the comparator and the control
signal from the central office.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller
module determines that a failure has occurred in the new equipment
module when the signal from the diode is below the first
predetermined threshold value, and controls the switch to output a
signal to the signal supply module and to the transfer switch to
change processing from the new equipment module to the existing
equipment module.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller
module further comprises: a second comparator that compares the
signal from the diode with a second predetermined threshold value
and outputs an output signal to the central office and to the
switch, wherein the output signal from the second comparator
controls the switch to receive one of the output from the first
comparator and the control signal from the central office.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller
module determines that the performance of the new equipment module
has degraded when the signal from the diode is below the second
predetermined threshold value, and controls the switch to receive
the control signal from the central office and to output the signal
to the signal supply module and to the transfer switch to change
processing from the new equipment module to the existing equipment
module.
9. An apparatus for providing an operating path via one of an
existing equipment module and a new equipment module in a network,
the apparatus comprising: first means for receiving signals from
customer premises equipment; second means, connected between the
output of the first means and respective inputs of the new
equipment module and the existing equipment module; and third
means, connected to respective outputs of the new equipment module
and the existing equipment module, to the first means, and to the
second means, for controlling the operation of the first means and
the second means to process signals via one of the new equipment
module and the existing equipment module.
10. An apparatus for providing an operating path via one of an
existing equipment module and a new equipment module in a network,
the apparatus comprising: first means for receiving signals from
customer premises equipment; second means, connected between the
output of the first means and respective inputs of the new
equipment module and the existing equipment module; and third
means, connected to respective outputs of the new equipment module
and the existing equipment module, to the first means, and to the
second means, for controlling the operation of the first means and
the second means to process signals via one of the new equipment
module and the existing equipment module, wherein the third means
comprises: first receiving means for receiving the signal output
from the new equipment module; first comparing means for comparing
a signal output from the first receiving means with a first
predetermined threshold value; second receiving means for receiving
one of an output signal from the first comparing means and a
control signal from a central office; wherein the third means is
arranged to control the operation of the first means and the second
means via an output from the second receiving means to process
signals via one of the new equipment module and the existing
equipment module based upon one of the output signal from the first
comparing means and the control signal from the central office.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the third means
further comprises: second comparing means for comparing the signal
from the first receiving means with a second predetermined
threshold value and for outputting an output signal to the central
office and to the second receiving means, wherein the output signal
from the second comparing means controls the first receiving means
to receive one of the output from the first comparing means and the
control signal from the central office.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
preventing loss of service from a service provider upon failure of
equipment during trial evaluations. More particularly, the present
invention is directed to a method and apparatus that switches from
new technology equipment being tested to existing technology
equipment upon failure or degradation of performance of the new
technology equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to meet increasing demands of customers, service providers
have begun to offer a wide variety of services. For example,
service providers have begun offering services including voice,
data, Internet connection, etc. These services may be offered in
bundled packages. The ability to offer these services depends upon
the development of equipment capable of supporting the growing
number of services offered to customers. The feasibility and
reliability of the equipment are determined during customer trials
or Beta trials, as they are sometimes called. During Beta trials,
customers in the trial disconnect from the existing equipment and
connect to the new equipment. If the new equipment fails during the
trial, the customers lose all service until the equipment is
replaced. Consequently, the customers may lose service for an
extended period of time.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for
preventing the loss of service or degradation in service during new
equipment trials. More particularly, there is a need for a method
and apparatus for preventing loss of service or degradation in
service from a service provider upon failure of equipment under
test. The present invention was developed to accomplish these and
other objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a method and apparatus that overcome the
deficiencies of the prior art.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus for preventing the loss of service
due to failure of equipment under test by switching from the
equipment under test to the existing or original equipment upon
failure of the equipment under test.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and
apparatus for monitoring the operation of the equipment under test
and for switching from the equipment under test to the existing
equipment upon degradation of performance of the test
equipment.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method
and apparatus that permits the trial of new equipment with the
existing equipment acting as a redundant path upon failure of the
new equipment.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will
be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments thereof, presented in
connection with the following drawings in which like reference
numerals identify like elements throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to an aspect of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a detailed block of the system shown in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 illustrates the controller and the carrier-to-noise ratio
detector shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was designed to address the problem of
failures or degradation of performance of equipment during trial
evaluations. For example, many service providers have demonstrated
great interest in the emerging Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
(ADSL) technology that allows more data to be sent over existing
copper telephone lines. More particularly, the ADSL technology is
capable of carrying full duplex POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)
and high-speed data to the subscriber over the existing wireline
infrastructure. Using the ADSL technology, service providers may
provide bundled services to their customers. Equipment capable of
supporting new technology, such as the ADSL technology, is tested
in Beta trials. Beta trials for the ADSL technology require
customers to disconnect from the existing equipment module and
connect to new equipment. If, in the course of the Beta trial, the
new equipment fails, service to the customer is lost until the
equipment is replaced. Therefore, upon failure of the equipment
being tested, the customers suffer the inconvenience of losing
service. The failure of the equipment may be the result of a
hardware failure or a software failure. Much of today's equipment
is software dependent. When a failure or problem occurs in the
software, the equipment fails or operates poorly.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the existing
equipment acts as a redundant module upon failure of the equipment
being tested. In addition, the existing equipment acts as a
redundant module when it is determined that the new equipment is
performing poorly. Therefore, customers continue to receive
service, although it may not be the desired service provided by the
new equipment. Upon failure of the equipment under test, operation
is automatically switched from the new technology to the existing
technology so that the customer at least receives the original
service. In addition, a central office may continuously monitor the
status and the performance of the new equipment. If the central
office detects degradation in the performance of the new equipment,
the central office may output a signal to switch operation from the
new equipment to the existing equipment in order to prevent
complete loss of service. In some instances, the central office may
be interested in determining how long the new equipment may operate
until a failure occurs. In this case, when the central office
detects that the new equipment is performing poorly, the central
office may allow the new equipment to operate until a failure
occurs.
Referring to FIG. 1, services are usually provided to the customer
via the existing equipment module 18 connected between the customer
premises equipment 10 and the wireless/wired network and the
central office. The customer premises equipment 10 may include a
telephone 12, a digital phone 14, a computer 16, and other devices.
During trial evaluations of new equipment, the existing equipment
module 18 is replaced with the new equipment. If the new equipment
fails during the trial, service is lost until the faulty equipment
is replaced.
According to the present invention, the existing equipment module
18 acts as a redundant module to provide service even when the new
equipment under test fails. The new equipment may support
technology such as point-to-point protocol, point-to-multiple-point
protocol, DSL technology, etc. The existing equipment may support
existing technology such as an analog service, for example.
Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention includes a Customer
Premises Technology Interface Module that includes a signal supply
module 20, a switch 22, and a controller module 26. The signal
supply module 20 is connected to both new equipment module 24 and
the existing equipment module 18 via switch 22. The new equipment
module 24 and the existing equipment module 18 are connected to the
controller module 26. The output from the controller module 26 may
be connected to a central office, a wireless network and/or a wired
network. The signal supply module 20 receives input from the
customer premises equipment 10 and supplies output to the switch
22. The output from the signal supply module 20 is supplied to the
new equipment module 24 via switch 22 unless failure or performance
degradation is detected in the new equipment module 24. The
controller module 26 detects failure or performance degradation of
the new equipment module 24 and sends a signal to both the signal
supply module 20 and to the switch 22 to switch connection of the
signal supply unit 20 from the new equipment module 24 to the
existing equipment module 18. Therefore, upon receipt of the signal
from the controller module 26, service is switched to the original
service (not the desired new service) provided by the existing
equipment module 18. In this manner, the loss of service may be
prevented upon failure of the new equipment module 24.
As shown in FIG. 3, the signal supply module 20 includes single
pole double throw (SPDT) switches 21a-21d, and multiplexers 23a and
23b. The signal supply module 20 may receive input for POTS,
10/100BaseT, PBX and video, for example. An input signal received
by any one of the SPDT switches 21a-21d is routed either to
multiplexer 23a for a technology under test-path (TUTP) or to
multiplexer 23b for the existing technology path (ETP). The switch
22, which may be implemented as a double pole double throw (DPDT)
switch, accepts the signal from the signal supply module 20 and
supplies it to the new equipment 24 via the TUTP or to the existing
equipment module 18 via the ETP. The output from either the new
equipment module 24 or the existing equipment module 18 is supplied
to the controller module 26, which determines whether the service
is wireline or wireless. The controller module 26 includes SPDT
switches 25a-25d that route the signal either to the wireline
network or to the wireless network. For example, the ADSL
technology uses the current wireline infrastructure, while
point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless radio systems use
the wireless network structure. The controller module 26 also
includes a controller (CNTL) 27 that routes the signal from the new
equipment module 24 to the existing equipment module. 18 when the
controller 27 detects a fault or degradation in performance in the
new equipment module 24. A carrier-to-noise detector (CND) 29 is
also provided in the controller module 26. The CND 29 monitors the
carrier-to-noise (CND) ratio or bit error rate (BER) of the signal
from the new equipment module 24. The central office (CO) is able
to monitor the performance of the new equipment module 24 via the
output of the CND 29. When degradation in the signal from the new
equipment module 24 is detected by the CND 29 and the CO, the CO
may output a control signal to switch operation from the new
equipment module 24 to the existing equipment module 18.
The automatic routing to the redundant path (ETP) of the existing
equipment module 18 ensures uninterrupted service. The service
provider does not have to scramble around for solutions since the
existing equipment module 18 takes over. This affords the service
provider some time for a permanent solution. Once the trial is
complete and the faults isolated and solved, the CPTIM, including
the signal supply module 20, switch 22, and the controller module
26, may be disconnected along with the existing equipment module
18, and the new equipment module 24 may be permanently commissioned
for service.
The controller 27 and the carrier-to-noise detector 29 are
described in more detail with respect to FIG. 4. The controller 27
includes a diode detector 31, a DC amplifier 33, a comparator 35, a
SPDT switch 37 and an amplifier 39. The diode detector 31 detects
the output signal from the new equipment module 24. The comparator
35 compares the detected signal with a reference threshold voltage
V.sub.ref1. The reference threshold voltage V.sub.ref1 may be set
to any appropriate level according to the equipment being tested.
If the detected signal is below the reference threshold voltage
V.sub.ref1, the controller 27 outputs a signal to the signal supply
module 20 and to the switch 22 that results in service being
switched from the new equipment module 24 to the existing equipment
module 18.
In addition, the SPDT switch 37 in the controller 27 makes it
possible for the CO to control the connection of the service
provided to the customer based upon the quality of the signal from
the new equipment module 24. More particularly, the CO may switch
service from the new equipment module 24 to the existing equipment
module 18 when degradation in the detected signal from the new
equipment module 24 is detected. The degradation in the signal may
be detected via the C/N ratio or the BER, for example.
In FIG. 4, the signal from the new equipment module 24 is supplied
from the diode 31 to an amplifier 41 in the CND 29. The output from
the amplifier 41 is supplied to a comparator 43, which compares the
detected signal with a reference threshold voltage V.sub.ref2. The
reference threshold voltage V.sub.ref2 may be set to any
appropriate value depending upon the new equipment module 24. The
output from the comparator 43 is supplied to the SPDT switch 37 via
amplifier 45 and to the CO. When the detected signal from the diode
31 is below the reference threshold voltage V.sub.ref2, the output
from the comparator 43 causes the position of the SPDT switch 37 to
change position from the default position shown in FIG. 4 to the
position for receiving a signal from the CO to switch service from
the new equipment module 24 to the existing equipment module 18 to
prevent loss of service. Therefore, the signal from the amplifier
45 acts as a control signal for the SPDT switch 37. Therefore, the
output from the comparator 43 enables the CO to monitor the
performance of the new equipment module 24. This way, as the BER or
the C/N ratio degrades, the central office can decide whether to
take action before there is total loss of service.
The operation of the present invention will now be described. The
CPTIM is a customer interface module having possible inputs POTS,
10/100BaseT, PBX, and video, to the signal supply module 20, as
shown in FIG. 3. These inputs are routed to multiplexer 23a for the
new equipment module 24 where they are multiplexed. The output from
the multiplexer 23a is forwarded to the new equipment module 24 via
the DPDT switch (or transfer switch) 22. The output of the new
equipment module 24 is supplied to the controller module 26, where
a determination is made if service is a wireline service or a
wireless service. The SPDT switches 25a-25d in the controller
module 26 route the signal to the appropriate network. Should a
fault or loss of signal occur in the new equipment module 24, it is
detected by the controller 27, which automatically sends control
signals to the switches 21a-21d in the signal supply module 20 and
to the switch 22 to route the signal from the customer premises
equipment 10 to the existing equipment module 18. The routing
operation takes place without customer involvement. The customer
continues to receive the original service until the service
provider corrects the problem.
The CND 29 in the controller module 26 also receives the signal
output from the new equipment module 24 and provides continuous
monitoring of the performance of the new equipment module 24. When
the signal from the new equipment falls below the reference
threshold voltage V.sub.ref2, a signal is sent to the SPDT switch
37 via the amplifier to change the position of the switch 37 from
the position shown in FIG. 4 to a position for receiving a signal
from the CO. Since the output from the comparator 43 is also
supplied to the CO, the CO is aware of problems in the performance
of the new equipment module 24. The CO may elect to output a signal
to switch 37 to switch operation from the new equipment module 24
to the existing equipment module 18. In response to such a signal
from the CO, the controller 27 outputs a signal to the signal
supply module 20 and to the switch 22 to effect the change of
operation. Once the problem is resolved, operation may be returned
to the new equipment module 24 or its replacement equipment.
Alternatively, the CO may elect to allow the new equipment module
24 to fail to determine the conditions under which failure
occurs.
Alarms indicating poor performance of the new equipment module 24
in the controller module 26 may be reported through the network
management system. In another embodiment, when the CND 29
determines that the new equipment is performing poorly, a signal
may be sent to a pager of a technician, for example, so that the
technician may respond appropriately. At the end of the trial
period, and after all of the problems are resolved, the CPTIM and
the existing equipment module 18 may be disconnected.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, it is recognized that various modifications thereof will
occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *